Podcasts about Bootstrappers

Dan shares why most bootstrapped business partnerships go sideways—and what to do if yours already has. Resources Mentioned: ● When Partners Fall Out (HBR article) (https://hbr.org/1986/11/when-partners-fall-out) ● Tropical MBA financial dashboards (https://tropicalmba.com/resources) CHAPTERS (00:00:13) Why This Episode Exists (00:01:27) The Bootstrapper's Dilemma (00:03:07) The Gridlock Problem (00:04:56) When Life Goals Shift (00:06:32) The Ownership Trap (00:08:04) Why Money Makes It Worse (00:09:14) Identity, Resentment, and Role Confusion (00:15:24) The Minority Partner Illusion (00:17:26) Rock Band Rules (00:26:53) How to Reset a Broken Partnership (00:27:46) The Ultimate Test (00:30:15) The Goal: One Plus One Equals More Than Two CONNECT Dan “at” tropicalmba dot com Ian “at” tropicalmba dot com LINKS Join the DC (http://dynamitecircle.com) Subscribe to the newsletter (https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe) Follow us on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/tropicalmba/) Free resources for business owners (https://tropicalmba.com/resources) MORE EPISODES The Roadmap for Turning a Skill Into a $1M Business (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/7-figure-productized-business) The Unexpected Downsides of Selling Your Business (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/exit-founders-disappointed) Success Without Sacrifice? (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/success-without-sacrifice) Shiny Object Syndrome (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/shiny-object-syndrome) The Anti-Agency Agency + High ROI Customer Service Strategies (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/anti-agency-high-roi)

#realconversations #speakercoach #author #selfpublished#strategist #fostercare #bootstrapper CONVERSATIONS WITH CALVIN WE THE SPECIESMeet DR DANISHA KEATING; “I've done nearly 500interviews/videos. I was never conflicted about what to talk about. UntilNOW.  Dr Danisha is wondrouslyaccomplished and qualified, passionate and experienced in helping speakers andauthors share their storied journey and actually get paid. I couldn't wait toZoom with Dr Danisha. Why the anticipation? I am a self-published author and havebeen living elements of her journey and mastery for a long time. It consumes mylife. And like virtually all of my self-published author ‘family', we needDanisha's expertise hugely. Am I dramatic enough? My conflict.Danisha's early life is a future movie. From two years old, she lived withhomeschooling, then foster care, living in her car, finally getting to collegeand taking eight years for a bachelor's and then a PhD, and then authoringseveral books. But Danisha is coming back to talk early journey and fostercare. But now, her guiding authors and speakers to a new world. She iscaptivating.”   Calvinhttps://www.youtube.com/c/ConversationswithCalvinWetheSpecIEs513 Interviews/Videos  9200 SUBSCRIBERSGLOBAL Reach. Earth Life. Amazing People.  PLEASE SUBSCRIBE** DR DANISHA KEATING: Helping Speakers & Authors ShareTheir Story; Author, ‘From Foster to PhD;' Foster Care; Bootstrapper; LIVE fromCaliforniaYouTube: https://youtu.be/4eIzUVzivSkLINKS:https://www.instagram.com/drdanishakeating/https://www.danishakeating.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/danisha-keating-phd-ctp-bb81a6183/BIO: Dr. Danisha Keating is a speaker coach and author strategistwho helps experts turn their story into booked speaking gigs and publishedbooks. With a trauma-informed, confidence-building approach, she empowersclients to own their voice and monetize their message.**WE ARE ALSO ON AUDIOAUDIO “Conversations with Calvin; WE the SpecIEs”ANCHOR https://lnkd.in/g4jcUPqSPOTIFY https://lnkd.in/ghuMFeCAPPLE PODCASTSBREAKER https://lnkd.in/g62StzJGOOGLE PODCASTS https://lnkd.in/gpd3XfMPOCKET CASTS https://pca.st/bmjmzaitRADIO PUBLIC https://lnkd.in/gxueFZw

Howard Gottlieb started Read-A-Thon in 2012 as a reading-based fundraising platform that helped students raise money while boosting education. Their easy platform and simple fundraising approach created amazing results. The Read-a-Thon business grew steadily and profitably without any outside funding. Read-A-Thon helped over 4000 schools and students raise over $30 million in donations. Their platform has tracked over 30 billion reading minutes by students who have used it to earn donations.   Read-A-Thon was successfully acquired by private equity investors in early 2023 for an undisclosed amount. The business has continued to grow and expand with a new CEO and key executives, with Howard on the board as an advisor and now a minority investor in the company.  Quote from Howard Gottlieb, founder of Read-A-Thon “I have been very blessed and very lucky in my journey with the success of Read-A-Thon. Everyone should realize that and have some humility. “If you succeed at the game, you can be the smartest guy or the smartest woman with the most brilliant idea, but it still will take 50% or more luck for everything to align correctly to succeed. Just realize that. It takes a lot of good fortune. “At Read-A-Thon, our lucky moment was COVID because online fundraising was only in its infancy. When COVID hit and schools were out, Read-A-Thon was almost the only viable option. Our growth went from 40% a year to 100%, then 150% a year. So that was luck after all these years.” Links Howard Gottlieb on LinkedIn Read-A-Thon on LinkedIn Read-A-Thon website The Practical Founders Podcast Tune into the Practical Founders Podcast for weekly in-depth interviews with founders who have built valuable software companies without big funding. Subscribe to the Practical Founders Podcast using your favorite podcast app or view on our YouTube channel. Get the weekly Practical Founders newsletter and podcast updates at practicalfounders.com/newsletter.

Richard Change is co-founder and CEO of PFA Solutions, the provider of FirmView software. FirmView® is the leading carry and compensation management platform for private equity investors to manage their internal compensation from fees and carried interest. Richard was a senior architect for a large private equity firm when he discovered this complex problem that was being managed on spreadsheets. He left to start PFA Solutions and bootstrapped the development of FirmView with consulting revenue. From inception, through growth and ultimately acquisition, Richard never took any outside funding. FirmView adoption grew steadily, serving large private equity firms. PFA Solutions eventually grew to 34 employees before being acquired by Allvue Systems in 2024. Allvue is a private-equity-backed software company that serves the alternative investment industry. Quote from Richard Change, co-founder and CEO of PFA Solutions "Once you're in it, once you've decided to start a company, own it. No regrets. No one's going to save you. There's not a fairy godmother that will come and wave all your problems away. You have to own it. "There's no magic wand that will come and wave a wand and say, OK, all your problems are solved. And that magic wand in my mind wasn't outside capital; it wasn't VC funding. That wasn't magic because what do when the money runs out? "Is your product generating revenue? That's the real problem. If there's a problem to be solved and you have a great idea or solution, you can generate revenue from it. Prove to yourself and the world that this is viable and has product-market fit." Links PFA Solutions on LinkedIn PFA Solutions website Allvue Systems website Vista Equity Partners website Podcast Sponsor - Cypress Growth Capital This week's podcast is sponsored by my friends at Cypress Growth Capital. For 15 years, Cypress has provided non-dilutive growth funding to bootstrapped SaaS founders, including many successful founders I've interviewed here on this podcast. The Practical Founders Podcast Tune into the Practical Founders Podcast for weekly in-depth interviews with founders who have built valuable software companies without big funding. Subscribe to the Practical Founders Podcast using your favorite podcast app or view on our YouTube channel. Get the weekly Practical Founders newsletter and podcast updates at practicalfounders.com/newsletter.

Is venture capitalism and manufacturing the perfect match for America's new industry boom? Or will the industry bootstrap its way to success on the slower path? The verdict's clear in this episode with Jim Belosic, the CEO of SendCutSend.Jim shares a down-to-earth take on succeeding as a manufacturing business with a mix of VC and bootstrapping. Rather than aiming for the dot-com boom level of success and all the private yachts that come with it, a slow and steady approach is ideal for manufacturing businesses, says Jim.We hear a little background on SendCutSend's start and laser-focused approach to customer service, plus why Jim is such a big fan of the bootstrapping route. We hear his opinion on why manufacturing might be making a comeback, how to raise the visibility of the industry to plug skill gaps, and why we may need to “chill out” a bit when it comes to AI.In this episode, find out:Why bootstrapping is a great alternative path to industrialization and why Jim believes VC doesn't belong in manufacturing How the future of entrepreneurship is changing back to traditional family-led routes Jim shares his background in manufacturing as a sign shop artist and what he learned about the effects of new tech on industry Why we're due for a re-boom in the manufacturing world and how new technology plays a central role Outsourcing abroad – the next phase – why we're due for a re-boom because the tech is even betterHow manufacturing can become more visible and enter the digital era with help from younger generations Why it's not enough to only be a good manufacturer today, you also need to be a good marketer tooHow manufacturers can make simple changes to their digital presence to move in line with what customers want Why teaming up with local competitors can be mutually beneficial Jim explains why investing in and paying your staff well is the number one important thing to do in this industry Why you shouldn't compete on price but instead on the quality of the service and the value your customer receivesEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It's feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:“The way to success in manufacturing is you can't just be a good manufacturer. You actually have to be a good marketer too.”“A lot of people look at their competitors and want to burn them down. That usually just ends up with both of you catching on fire. So instead, try and be friendly.”“We're poised for a manufacturing re-boom because the technology is even better now. This newest generation of machines is set up so well with alarms and error control, communication, and reliability, you're not just upgrading your speed or the reliability of the machine, you're upgrading your entire workforce.”Links & mentions:SendCutSend, online sheet metal fabrication service; get custom parts delivered in just a few days (upload STEP or DXF files for instant pricing)A Bootstrapper's Guide to Re-Industrializing America, Jim's article that inspired this episodeMake sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

One day, we'll all meld our minds into one, sharing our thoughts like the Borg on Star Trek.But before that, we have a few things to get done. And for us founders, that's dealing with the ever-increasing speed of technological advancement.The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/indie-hacking-the-singularity/The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/372-indie-hacking-the-singularityCheck out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fmSend me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvidYou'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.comPodcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcastNewsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletterMy book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.comHere are a few tools I use. Using my affiliate links will support my work at no additional cost to you.- Notion (which I use to organize, write, coordinate, and archive my podcast + newsletter): https://affiliate.notion.so/465mv1536drx- Riverside.fm (that's what I recorded this episode with): https://riverside.fm/?via=arvid- TweetHunter (for speedy scheduling and writing Tweets): http://tweethunter.io/?via=arvid- HypeFury (for massive Twitter analytics and scheduling): https://hypefury.com/?via=arvid60- AudioPen (for taking voice notes and getting amazing summaries): https://audiopen.ai/?aff=PXErZ- Descript (for word-based video editing, subtitles, and clips): https://www.descript.com/?lmref=3cf39Q- ConvertKit (for email lists, newsletters, even finding sponsors): https://convertkit.com?lmref=bN9CZw

Dan & Ian talk to Lucas Peters, founder of Journey Beyond Travel (https://www.journeybeyondtravel.com/), about his plans to get to $10M in 5 years. They break down the business and shift thinking from a project-oriented mindset to an approach rooted in financial analysis: What are your gross margins? What does it take to aquire a customer? What is your rebuy rate and LTV? They consider the highest leverage paths to growth. Want to get in the company of other entrepreneurs to help you kickstart your 2025 goals? Submit your application to join Dynamite Circle at https://dynamitecircle.com/ (https://dynamitecircle.com/) Chapters (00:03:08) Business Growth and COVID Impact (00:04:08) Unique Business Model and Market Positioning (00:04:47) Sales Process and Customer Engagement (00:09:04) Revenue Model and Pricing Strategy (00:13:02) Customer Retention and Repeat Business (00:13:55) Expansion Plans and Market Opportunities (00:14:43) Product Development and Cost Analysis (00:14:56) Maximizing Customer Lifetime Value (00:23:08) Strategizing Location Development (00:25:32) Market Potential and Capacity Constraints (00:31:23) Building a Supportive Team (00:32:38) Testing New Product Offerings (00:35:31) Driving Down Product Development Costs (00:37:53) Final Thoughts and Future Directions Useful links: Access our free business resources (https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe) Connect with other entrepreneurs (https://dynamitecircle.com/join-dc/) Coaching for $250K+ founders (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-accelerator) Community for 1M+ founders (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) Hire remote talent (https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/) Find a remote job (https://dynamitejobs.com/) Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Lucy Bella Simkins, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal Additional episodes you might enjoy: “The 4 Most Eye-Opening Lessons I've Learned From My Coaching Clients” (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/4-eye-opening-lessons) “You're Gonna Mess It Up The Way Everybody Messes It Up” (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/everybody-messes-it-up) “When is my LTV good enough?” + Founder Mode for Bootstrappers (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/ltv-good-enough)

Dan and Ian discuss the importance of three key executive roles—CEO, COO, and CFO—within bootstrapped businesses, emphasizing the need for founders to embrace responsibilities beyond visionary tasks. They share insights from this year's DCBKK and a sneak peek into the upcoming DC Black event in New York. (00:00:22) Welcome and Introduction (00:01:03) The Three Hats of Bootstrapping (00:09:51) Trends from DCBKK Event (00:12:34) The Importance of Financial Planning (00:19:30) LinkedIn as a Top Funnel Tool (00:22:50) Reflections and Future Events Useful links: Access our free business resources (https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe) Connect with other entrepreneurs (https://dynamitecircle.com/join-dc/) Coaching for $250K+ founders (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-accelerator) Community for 1M+ founders (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) Hire remote talent (https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/) Find a remote job (https://dynamitejobs.com/) Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Lucy Bella Simkins, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal Additional episodes you might enjoy: $30K a Month on Upwork in Less Than 2 Years (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/30k-a-month-2-years) “You're Gonna Mess It Up The Way Everybody Messes It Up” (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/everybody-messes-it-up) “When is my LTV good enough?” + Founder Mode for Bootstrappers (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/ltv-good-enough) $100K MRR in 12 Months… Can They Do It? (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/100k-mrr-12-months)

This week's episode is for the business finance and idea nerds. We're joined this week in a business breakdown session with Alexej Pikovsky of Alphawellbrands.com. Alexej raised 4MIL to build a CBD marketplace. They were forced to pivot and have currently acquired an Amazon FBA brand and started up a success agency in the process, the combined revenue of both is on track to be over 4MIL this year. We'll dig into the Peter Paul problem– how to choose where to focus your energy when you have multiple businesses? We'll also cover his perspective on what happened in the Amazon aggregator space. How did so much capital implode so quickly? (Thrasio raised 3 Billion dollars and provided exits to many TMBA listeners). Is there room for smaller roll-ups that work in 2024? Takeaways ● ● Transition from a CBD marketplace to an SEO agency and FBA brand. ● The aggregator model faced significant challenges post-COVID. ● Many D2C brands are struggling with profitability and valuation. ● Acquiring the scented candles brand was a strategic move in a declining market. ● The agency provides valuable insights but distracts from brand focus. ● Investor relations are crucial for long-term success and exit strategies. ● The e-commerce landscape is evolving, requiring new strategies for success. ● The agency's role in the overall business strategy is under review. ● Future growth may depend on focusing solely on the brand. Useful links: Access our free business resources (https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe) Connect with other entrepreneurs (https://dynamitecircle.com/join-dc/) Coaching for $250K+ founders (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-accelerator) Community for 1M+ founders (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) Hire remote talent (https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/) Find a remote job (https://dynamitejobs.com/) Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Lucy Bella Simkins, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal Additional episodes you might enjoy: “The 4 Most Eye-Opening Lessons I've Learned From My Coaching Clients” (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/4-eye-opening-lessons) “You're Gonna Mess It Up The Way Everybody Messes It Up” (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/everybody-messes-it-up) “When is my LTV good enough?” + Founder Mode for Bootstrappers (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/ltv-good-enough) $100K MRR in 12 Months… Can They Do It? (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/100k-mrr-12-months)

Selling your product or service requires using words to convey what you offer. But words alone don't convert on-the-fence prospects into paying customers. Great conversion copy is a mix of persuasion, UX, and decision-making psychology. Sound hard? We promise it isn't. Chris, the founder of Conversion Alchemy (https://christophersilvestri.com/), takes us for a deep dive into all things copywriting and how the power of your messaging can impact your business growth, for better or worse. Plus, he shares a simple five-step copy audit process that transforms agency websites into lead generation machines, with principles you can apply to improve your own marketing collateral. Tune in for writing tips, principles, and examples you can copy. Newsletter subscribers (https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe) will get the 5-step worksheet to help you create your own offer in 30 minutes. Takeaways - Empathizing with the client's problem, understanding your audience's language, and identifying audience awareness levels is crucial for effective messaging. - A clear value proposition resonates with prospects'' goals and increases engagement. - Clarifying what you do and how, backed with empathy, builds trust with potential clients. - Contextual proof enhances credibility and addresses objections, creating a smoother client experience. - Shielding clients from risk reassures them during the decision-making process. - The “coffee table test” helps tailor messaging to the audience. - AI can assist in drafting copy but should not replace personal insights. - Tripwire products can effectively lower barriers to entry for clients. - Analyzing successful agency websites can provide valuable insights. - Dynamic frameworks for copywriting are more effective than rigid formulas. - Leveraging testimonials can significantly boost credibility. Useful links: Access our free business resources (https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe) Connect with other entrepreneurs (https://dynamitecircle.com/join-dc/) Coaching for $250K+ founders (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-accelerator) Community for 1M+ founders (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) Hire remote talent (https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/) Find a remote job (https://dynamitejobs.com/) Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Lucy Bella Simkins, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal Additional episodes you might enjoy: “The 4 Most Eye-Opening Lessons I've Learned From My Coaching Clients” (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/4-eye-opening-lessons) “You're Gonna Mess It Up The Way Everybody Messes It Up” (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/everybody-messes-it-up) “When is my LTV good enough?” + Founder Mode for Bootstrappers (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/ltv-good-enough) $100K MRR in 12 Months… Can They Do It? (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/100k-mrr-12-months)

Dan and Ian talk to 100s of listeners a year via 1:1 coaching. In this episode they distill those calls into 4 breakthrough ideas that can change your quarter for the better. Newsletter subscribers will get our GPS (Goals/Plans/Systems) worksheet. Sign up for the newsletter. (https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe) Takeaways ● Be sure you pack enough underwear for your next trip abroad. ● Getting aligned on goals is easy, but aligning on plans is hard. ● Hiring should be based on unique business needs, not generic roles. ● Confidence is essential for entrepreneurs, especially in challenging times. ● Discipline in financial management is crucial for sustainable growth. ● Regularly reviewing financials helps maintain business health. ● Accountability in coaching can drive significant progress. ● Sacrifices are often necessary to achieve business goals. ● Effective hiring requires a clear understanding of ROI. ● Facing reality and challenges can build confidence. ● Entrepreneurship allows for a lifestyle designed by personal choice. In honor of traveling to DCBKK this week, here's Dan's original packing list (https://tropicalmba.com/articles/digital-nomad-packing-lis/) from 2010. And an updated list (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/packing) in 2015. Is it time for a new list? Chapters - (00:00:59) Dan's Packing List Ahead of DCBKK - (00:02:28) 4 Breakthroughs From Our Coaching Calls - (00:05:20) The Importance of Goal Alignment - (00:09:54) Hiring for Unique Situations - (00:16:36) Good Confidence vs Bad Confidence - (00:21:03) Discipline in Entrepreneurship Useful links: Access our free business resources (https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe) Connect with other entrepreneurs (https://dynamitecircle.com/join-dc/) Coaching for $250K+ founders (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-accelerator) Community for 1M+ founders (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) Hire remote talent (https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/) Find a remote job (https://dynamitejobs.com/) Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Lucy Bella Simkins, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal Additional episodes you might enjoy: $30K a Month on Upwork in Less Than 2 Years (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/30k-a-month-2-years) “You're Gonna Mess It Up The Way Everybody Messes It Up” (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/everybody-messes-it-up) “When is my LTV good enough?” + Founder Mode for Bootstrappers (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/ltv-good-enough) $100K MRR in 12 Months… Can They Do It? (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/100k-mrr-12-months)

Bootstrapping is all about dealing with constraints: no money, the day job, lack of experience, and having no distribution. If you want to know how I tackle the restricted resources I am building Podscan on, this one's for you. Today, we'll dive into what drives my priorities and how they find their way into a complex platform that juggles a lot of expensive operations.This episode is sponsored by Paddle.com — if you're looking for a payment platform that works for you so you can focus on what matters, check them out.The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/navigating-constraints-as-a-bootstrapper/The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/349-navigating-constraints-as-a-bootstrapperCheck out Podscan to get alerts when you're mentioned on podcasts: https://podscan.fmSend me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvidYou'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.comPodcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcastNewsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletterMy book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.comHere are a few tools I use. Using my affiliate links will support my work at no additional cost to you.- Notion (which I use to organize, write, coordinate, and archive my podcast + newsletter): https://affiliate.notion.so/465mv1536drx- Riverside.fm (that's what I recorded this episode with): https://riverside.fm/?via=arvid- TweetHunter (for speedy scheduling and writing Tweets): http://tweethunter.io/?via=arvid- HypeFury (for massive Twitter analytics and scheduling): https://hypefury.com/?via=arvid60- AudioPen (for taking voice notes and getting amazing summaries): https://audiopen.ai/?aff=PXErZ- Descript (for word-based video editing, subtitles, and clips): https://www.descript.com/?lmref=3cf39Q- ConvertKit (for email lists, newsletters, even finding sponsors): https://convertkit.com?lmref=bN9CZw

Dan considers why many of us are resistant to a certain type of business idea even when it's been proved time and time again. He'll also explore that often what stands between your business and positive change is some structured thinking. Lastly, we'll hear from a listener who's working to take his lifestyle brand to $1M and what his plans are to get there. Featured in this episode: Founder Robby McClung of the McClumsy (https://mcclumsy.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoovUif485xIc7NQ559s51c7sWaSSF_z4jDBNR4eGd0yub7TWUmA) lifestyle brand. This week's episode brought to you by Smash Digital (https://smashdigital.com/). They'll build you a scalable SEO growth strategy to earn the juiciest high-authority backlinks on earth. No, really. Useful links: Connect with other entrepreneurs (https://dynamitecircle.com/join-dc/) Coaching for $250K+ founders (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-accelerator) Community for 1M+ founders (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) Hire remote talent (https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/) Find a remote job (https://dynamitejobs.com/) Listen on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@OfficialTropicalMBA) Follow us on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/tropicalmba/) Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Lucy Bella Simkins, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal Additional episodes you might enjoy: $30K a Month on Upwork in Less Than 2 Years (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/30k-a-month-2-years) “You're Gonna Mess It Up The Way Everybody Messes It Up” (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/everybody-messes-it-up) “When is my LTV good enough?” + Founder Mode for Bootstrappers (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/ltv-good-enough) $100K MRR in 12 Months… Can They Do It? (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/100k-mrr-12-months)

saas.unbound is a podcast for and about founders who are working on scaling inspiring products that people love, brought to you by https://saas.group/, a serial acquirer of B2B SaaS companies. In episode #8, Anna Nadeina talks with Niklas Hanitsch @SECJUR, platform offering data protection solution. -----------Episode's Chapters-------------- 00:00 - Introduction to Secure and Its Founder 02:56 - The Journey from Law to Tech 06:11 - Transitioning from Consultancy to Product 09:03 - Understanding Customer Needs and Market Dynamics 11:57 - The Decision to Raise Funds 15:10 - Navigating Challenges and Restructuring 17:57 - Spiritual Awakening and Personal Growth 24:03 - Conflict Resolution and Company Culture 30:12 - Future Plans and Lessons Learned Niklas - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanitsch/ SECJUR - https://www.secjur.com/ Subscribe to our channel to be the first to see the interviews that we publish twice a week - https://www.youtube.com/@saas-group Stay up to date: Twitter: https://twitter.com/SaaS_group LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/14790796

“Manager mode is so tempting…” Dan & Ian discuss Paul Graham's most recent essay titled “Founder Mode”, and how lifestyle bootsrappers can harness the power of founder mode to grow their businesses. They'll also address a question they get asked all the time: “But when is my LTV good enough?” How to figure out your LTV to CAC ratio and more in this week's episode. Subscribe to the newsletter to access Dan & Ian's business resources used with their coaching clients. Subscribe to the TMBA newsletter. (https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe) This week's episode brought to you by Remote First Recruiting (https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/). Hire your next team member in 30 days or less. From the episode: Paul Graham's Founder Mode (https://paulgraham.com/foundermode.html). ‘Old Man River' reference from The 5 Approaches for Getting Rich + Budgeting for Wealth (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/5-approaches-getting-wealth) Connect with us: Dan: @TropicalMBA (https://twitter.com/TropicalMBA) or dan@tropicalmba.com Ian: @AnythingIa (https://twitter.com/AnythingIan)n or ian@tropicalmba.com Useful links: Connect with other entrepreneurs (https://dynamitecircle.com/join-dc/) Coaching for $250K+ founders (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-accelerator) Community for 1M+ founders (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) Hire remote talent (https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/) Find a remote job (https://dynamitejobs.com/) Listen on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@OfficialTropicalMBA) Follow us on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/tropicalmba/) Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Lucy Bella Simkins, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal Additional episodes you might enjoy: $30K a Month on Upwork in Less Than 2 Years (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/30k-a-month-2-years) “Lifestyle Business” vs “Real Business” (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/lifestyle-vs-real-business) Only 3 Ways to Grow…What Would Plato Do (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/three-ways-grow-business)

In this conversation we unpack their journey of building a “lifestyle business”. Some takeaways:— Chris and Brendan emphasize the importance of patience, focus, and long-term thinking in building a sustainable business. They challenge the notion that raising large amounts of venture capital is necessary for success by finding that being profitable allows for more long-term focus and creative risk-taking. Compounding growth over time can lead to significant results, even if initial growth rates seem modest compared to venture-backed peers.— After the buyback, there was a shift in company culture towards greater ownership and cost-consciousness among employees. They introduced profit sharing and later reintroduced stock options to align incentives with long-term growth. They stress the importance of building a team you enjoy working with and taking risks on people with growth potential.— Wistia focuses on solving big problems in large, growing markets rather than chasing short-term trends. They've learned to be patient with new product initiatives, looking for early qualitative feedback before expecting significant revenue. The company balances short-term metrics with long-term vision, understanding that meaningful growth often takes time.

She bootstrapped to $12m in revenue in under 18 months. Rebecca Shostak launched FloDesk.com in 2017 as an email marketing tool focused on beautiful design for solopreneurs. As of May 2024, 80,000 customers pay $28/mo on average and the firm just launched their second product: Sales funnels. She's done this all with a team of just 50 people - $540k in revenue per employee. Will she break $35m in ARR this year and remain bootstrapped?

This week, in episode 207, special guest Sharon Gillenwater lets us in on some dirty little secrets about Silicon Valley. She's the founder of two businesses. The first one was backed by venture capital and then destroyed by venture capital. Despite that experience, Sharon tried to raise capital for her second business, Boardroom Insiders, a software-as-a-service marketing tool that helps businesses sell to the top decision-makers at big corporations. But this time, the VCs weren't interested. So she bootstrapped the business with the help of an angel investor—and proceeded to learn some surprising lessons, many of which she shares in her book, Scaling with Soul. Perhaps the biggest surprise came when she sold her business and learned the happy lesson that the founder of a relatively small bootstrapped business can walk away with more money than the founder of a venture-backed business that sells for far more. In our conversation, Sharon is unusually candid about what it took to build her business, what she learned about B2B marketing, and precisely how much money she made along the way.

We speak to hundreds of entrepreneurs every year through one-on-one coaching and live events. Many of those entrepreneurs have gone on to become very wealthy, and throughout our conversations with those people, we have found some common threads to the ways that wealthy people behave. This was one of our most popular episodes of 2019 so we're bringing it back with updated thoughts. This week, newsletter subscribers will get Dan's personal monthly budget template. Sign up for our newsletter to receive TMBA-exclusive business-building resources weekly. (https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe) Chapters ● (00:02:20) Every Dollar Has a Job ● (00:09:30) Deals. People. Energy. Luck. ● (00:14:42) Strategic Identity Creation ● (00:21:22) Comprehensive Arbitrage ● (00:29:03) Old Man River ● (00:33:15) Shovel Stamper Connect with us: Dan: @TropicalMBA (https://twitter.com/TropicalMBA) or dan@tropicalmba.com Ian: @AnythingIan (https://twitter.com/AnythingIan) or ian@tropicalmba.com (ian@tropicalmba.com) Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Lucy Bella Simkins, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal Additional episodes you might enjoy: Winning and losing Millions with Nathaniel Eliason (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/winning-and-losing-nathaniel-eliason) Less Than 5% of Businesses Get to 1MIL+ - A Process to Reach the Goal (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/process-to-reach-goal) The 7 Most Common Money Mistakes for Bootstrappers (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/7-money-mistakes)

In this week's conversation, Dan and Ian discuss 10 ideas that provide valuable insights and strategies for entrepreneurs looking to grow their revenue to $1 Million and beyond. From years of experience and countless coaching calls, Dan and Ian cover topics such as finding a product with a tailwind, getting out of delivery, hiring a key badass, understanding your business model, optimizing your marketing funnel, and much more… These strategies can provide a roadmap for entrepreneurs to focus on the most impactful areas of their business and make informed decisions to drive growth. Dan & Ian's Stuff: Our book: Before the Exit (https://www.amazon.com/Before-Exit-Thought-Experiments-Entrepreneurs/dp/1980628823/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3E5PMCCM0TDZ0&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.GnIb36rltn6NgcjHBCs8zg.waeKvE3zKoAbCt6Adoo5o5vv7M4PDyOj9pMXE7dM82A&dib_tag=se&keywords=before+the+exit+dan+andrews&qid=1711510466&s=books&sprefix=before+the+exit+dan+andrews%2Cstripbooks%2C101&sr=1-1) The Newsletter (https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe) “The DC” (https://dynamitecircle.com/join-dc/) DC Accelerator (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-accelerator) DC Black (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) Global events (https://dynamitecircle.com/events) Hire remote talent (https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/) Find a remote job (https://dynamitejobs.com/) Listen on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@OfficialTropicalMBA) Follow on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/tropicalmba/) @TropicalMBA (https://twitter.com/TropicalMBA) @AnythingIan (https://twitter.com/AnythingIan) Chapters: (00:00:49) Introduction and Setting (00:02:02) 10 Ideas for Reaching $1 Million in Revenue (00:03:46) Finding a Product with a Tailwind (00:11:11) Getting Out of Delivery (00:17:57) Hiring a Key Badass (00:23:48) Knowing Your Numbers (00:25:05) Understanding Your Numbers (00:29:27) Creating a Resident Offer (00:32:46) Optimizing Your Marketing Funnel (00:38:50) Identifying Key Metrics (00:40:51) Patching the Leaky Boat Links: Diagnostic & Goals | Plans | Systems Work sheet (https://docs.google.com/document/d/15eai16-JiRqUDYyKBdG6Za-vIs_xLCnGRcLYYcbrGDE/edit) Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Lucy Bella Simkins, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal Additional episodes you might enjoy: Winning and losing Millions with Nathaniel Eliason (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/winning-and-losing-nathaniel-eliason) Less Than 5% of Businesses Get to 1MIL+ - A Process to Reach the Goal (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/process-to-reach-goal) The 7 Most Common Money Mistakes for Bootstrappers (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/7-money-mistakes)

This week's conversation revolves around the book 'Crypto Confidential' and explores author Nathaniel Eliason's experience during the crypto mania. From the moment he decided to go all-in on crypto and the impact it had on their personal life, Nathaniel delves into the mechanics of farming and the process of launching decentralized exchanges. Enjoy insights deep insights from the crypto world including off-ramping, the risks and challenges of early wallets, the mindset of crypto whales, the experience of losing and making millions, the rise and fall of the Titan project, and the author's biggest win in developing a crypto game. Dan & Ian's Stuff: Our book: Before the Exit (https://www.amazon.com/Before-Exit-Thought-Experiments-Entrepreneurs/dp/1980628823/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3E5PMCCM0TDZ0&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.GnIb36rltn6NgcjHBCs8zg.waeKvE3zKoAbCt6Adoo5o5vv7M4PDyOj9pMXE7dM82A&dib_tag=se&keywords=before+the+exit+dan+andrews&qid=1711510466&s=books&sprefix=before+the+exit+dan+andrews%2Cstripbooks%2C101&sr=1-1) The Newsletter (https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe) “The DC” (https://dynamitecircle.com/join-dc/) DC Accelerator (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-accelerator) DC Black (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) Global events (https://dynamitecircle.com/events) Hire remote talent (https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/) Find a remote job (https://dynamitejobs.com/) Listen on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@OfficialTropicalMBA) Follow on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/tropicalmba/) @TropicalMBA (https://twitter.com/TropicalMBA) @AnythingIan (https://twitter.com/AnythingIan) Chapters: (00:16:41) Going All-In on Crypto (00:20:53) Exploring the Mechanics of Farming and Decentralized Exchanges (00:26:35) The Role of Social Media in Spreading Information and Attracting Investors (00:34:37) The Influx of Money into Crypto: Motivations of Investors (00:35:22) Challenges of Off-Ramping Crypto and Early Wallets (00:36:01) The Mindset of Crypto Whales (00:41:13) Lessons from Losing Money in the Crypto World (00:42:59) The Rise and Fall of the Titan Project (00:52:42) The Author's Biggest Win: Developing a Crypto Game (00:59:50) Choosing Fulfillment over Financial Success: The Decision to Focus on Writing Links: Crypto Confidential: Winning and Losing Millions in the New Frontier of Finance (https://www.amazon.com/Crypto-Confidential-Winning-Millions-Frontier/dp/0593714040) Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Lucy Bella Simkins, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal Additional episodes you might enjoy: Less Than 5% of Businesses Get to 1MIL+ - A Process to Reach the Goal (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/process-to-reach-goal) The 7 Most Common Money Mistakes for Bootstrappers (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/7-money-mistakes) Unlock Wealth Through Financial Fluency (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/unlock-wealth-financial-fluency)

Dan and Ian discuss the fundamental principles of change and how they apply to both weight loss and entrepreneurship. The conversation explores the three key components of successful change: knowledge, accountability, and identity. Listen in for how these principles are practical and applicable to your business growth, cause ass we know breakthroughs in our business don't happen through epiphanies, they happen through small and consistent accumulations of change. Dan & Ian's Stuff: Our book: Before the Exit (https://www.amazon.com/Before-Exit-Thought-Experiments-Entrepreneurs/dp/1980628823/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3E5PMCCM0TDZ0&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.GnIb36rltn6NgcjHBCs8zg.waeKvE3zKoAbCt6Adoo5o5vv7M4PDyOj9pMXE7dM82A&dib_tag=se&keywords=before+the+exit+dan+andrews&qid=1711510466&s=books&sprefix=before+the+exit+dan+andrews%2Cstripbooks%2C101&sr=1-1) The Newsletter (https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe) “The DC” (https://dynamitecircle.com/join-dc/) DC Accelerator (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-accelerator) DC Black (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) Global events (https://dynamitecircle.com/events) Hire remote talent (https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/) Find a remote job (https://dynamitejobs.com/) Listen on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@OfficialTropicalMBA) Follow on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/tropicalmba/) @TropicalMBA (https://twitter.com/TropicalMBA) @AnythingIan (https://twitter.com/AnythingIan) Chapters ● (00:00:54) Introduction and Catching Up ● (00:02:42) The Need for Change in Business ● (00:04:40) The Pyramid of Change ● (00:10:34) The Three Components of Successful Change ● (00:10:53) The Power of Accountability ● (00:12:31) Changing Practices and Relationships ● (00:14:23) The Importance of Accountability ● (00:17:27) The Role of Knowledge in Change ● (00:18:01) Different Types of Knowledge ● (00:22:16) The Power of Identity ● (00:28:57) The Priority of Change ● (00:29:45) The Promise of Change Links: Dr. Layne Norton's YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/@biolayne1) Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Lucy Bella Simkins, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal Additional episodes you might enjoy: The 7 Most Common Money Mistakes for Bootstrappers (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/7-money-mistakes) Unlock Wealth Through Financial Fluency (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/unlock-wealth-financial-fluency) The Secret Weapon for Pricing Power (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/secret-weapon-pricing-power)

Dan and Ian discuss the biggest money problems they've seen in their own business and hundreds of other bootstrapped businesses. Learn how to craft a sustainable financial model, the importance of owner compensation, how to avoid being under-invested, and more. Dan & Ian's Stuff: Our book: Before the Exit (https://www.amazon.com/Before-Exit-Thought-Experiments-Entrepreneurs/dp/1980628823/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3E5PMCCM0TDZ0&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.GnIb36rltn6NgcjHBCs8zg.waeKvE3zKoAbCt6Adoo5o5vv7M4PDyOj9pMXE7dM82A&dib_tag=se&keywords=before+the+exit+dan+andrews&qid=1711510466&s=books&sprefix=before+the+exit+dan+andrews%2Cstripbooks%2C101&sr=1-1) The Newsletter (https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe) “The DC” (https://dynamitecircle.com/join-dc/) DC Accelerator (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-accelerator) DC Black (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) Global events (https://dynamitecircle.com/events) Hire remote talent (https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/) Find a remote job (https://dynamitejobs.com/) Listen on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@OfficialTropicalMBA) Follow on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/tropicalmba/) @TropicalMBA (https://twitter.com/TropicalMBA) @AnythingIan (https://twitter.com/AnythingIan) Chapters ● (00:00:45) Introduction and Setting the Stage ● (00:01:13) The Importance of Money Attitudes and Metaphors ● (00:16:08) The Startup Spending Mindset in Bootstrapped Businesses ● (00:29:39) Focusing on the Wrong Problems ● (00:31:25) Strategies for Affording to Start a Business ● (00:34:28) Starting Early and Investing in Yourself ● (00:38:18) The Importance of Owner Compensation ● (00:41:15) Setting a Salary Cap ● (00:45:12) Avoiding Being Under-Invested Links: - Derek Sivers article “Shed Your Money Taboos” (https://sive.rs/mn1) - Venkatesh Rao article “Ancient Rivers of Money” (https://www.ribbonfarm.com/2010/11/05/ancient-rivers-of-money/) Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Lucy Bella Simkins, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal Additional episodes you might enjoy: Unlock Wealth Through Financial Fluency (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/unlock-wealth-financial-fluency) The Secret Weapon for Pricing Power (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/secret-weapon-pricing-power) How Healthy is Your Business? (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/how-healthy-is-your-business)

SummaryWelcome to the podcast! In this episode, we dive into Sharon Grewal's entrepreneurial journey and her path to startup success. Sharon shares her early influences, including her admiration for her working mother, and how her background in journalism led to a successful transition into the startup world. She discusses the advantages and challenges of corporate hiring and startup growth, offering valuable insights and lessons for new entrepreneurs.Sharon highlights the rise of entrepreneurship, the evolving landscape of venture capital, and the importance of understanding founder exits. We get an exclusive look at her book, "The Empathetic Entrepreneur," and the privilege of doing what you love.Takeaways1. Early influences and experiences can shape an individual's career path.2. Working at a startup offers unique opportunities for growth and impact.3. Skills gained from unrelated jobs can be valuable in entrepreneurship.4. Understanding the dynamics of venture capital and founder exits is crucial for entrepreneurs.5. The rise of entrepreneurship is influenced by factors such as technology and access to resources.6. Doing what you love can be a privilege, but it is also possible to find fulfillment outside of work.7. Selling a company is a structured process that involves creating a marketing deck, reaching out to potential buyers, and conducting due diligence.8. Bootstrappers should cultivate relationships with potential customers, offer free high-value advice, and consider custom projects to win early champions.Chapters00:00 Trailer01:20 Sharing Journey07:35 Lessons from Working as a Serving09:12 The Rise of Entrepreneurship24:02 The Empathetic Entrepreneur Book28:08 Privilege vs Right to Do What You Love30:15 Thought Process Behind Selling the Company37:55 Understanding Private Equity and M&A Bankers41:20 Types of Businesses That Can Be Sold45:00 Deal Structuring and Negotiation52:30 Advice for Bootstrappers57:55 Ritual Time59:40 ConclusionConnect with Mudassir

A few months ago, I raised a low 6-figure investment for Podscan. Here's the conversation between me and my investor, @tylertringas, that happened just before I signed the contract.You usually don't get to listen in for one of those. Today, you will.Tyler and I discuss how the Calm Company Fund navigates the alignment challenge between founders and investors, what makes a business like Podscan investable, and the risks of funding a portfolio of niche bootstrapped businesses.Tyler on X: https://x.com/tylertringas00:00:00 Bootstrapper-Compatible Funding00:06:23 Profit Sharing and Standardizing Investment Agreements00:12:53 Investor-Founder Alignment & Site Projects00:22:30 Side Project Management in Investments00:28:18 Early Stage Financing Investment Considerations00:40:50 Valuation and Investment Strategy Art00:48:19 Entrepreneurial Collaboration and Forward PlanningThis episode is sponsored by Acquire.comThe blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/negotiating-bootstrapper-funding-with-tyler-tringas/ The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/328-negotiating-bootstrapper-funding-with-tyler-tringas You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.comPodcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcastNewsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletterMy book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.comHere are a few tools I use. Using my affiliate links will support my work at no additional cost to you.- Notion (which I use to organize, write, coordinate, and archive my podcast + newsletter): https://affiliate.notion.so/465mv1536drx- Riverside.fm (that's what I recorded this episode with): https://riverside.fm/?via=arvid- TweetHunter (for speedy scheduling and writing Tweets): http://tweethunter.io/?via=arvid- HypeFury (for massive Twitter analytics and scheduling): https://hypefury.com/?via=arvid60- AudioPen (for taking voice notes and getting amazing summaries): https://audiopen.ai/?aff=PXErZ- Descript (for word-based video editing, subtitles, and clips): https://www.descript.com/?lmref=3cf39Q- ConvertKit (for email lists, newsletters, even finding sponsors): https://convertkit.com?lmref=bN9CZw

Welcome to The Harvest Growth Podcast! In today's episode, host Jon LaClare chats with Eric Barnhart, the innovative mind behind Boomin Belts, a unique Bluetooth belt buckle speaker born from a simple desire to have walk-up music like a baseball player while on the golf course. We'll delve into Eric's journey of 16 months of prototyping, the challenges of viral video marketing, and the incredible reception of his product at the PGA show. Plus, hear how Eric's relationship with Shark Tank's Kevin Harrington has bolstered his entrepreneurial spirit. Whether you're a golf enthusiast, a fan of innovative products, or curious about authentic marketing strategies, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration. Let's dive in! In this episode of the Harvest Growth Podcast, we'll discuss:●      The value of networking for entrepreneurs and aspiring founders●      How to create viral social media content for your business or product●      Authenticity and uniqueness in content creation●      Tips on choosing the right tradeshows and events●      And so much more! Visit www.boominbelts.com to discover how you can enjoy your favorite music in a new way and create lasting memories with family and friends. Boomin Belts eliminates the need for bulky headphones and heavy speakers, letting you have fun without hassle. To be a guest on our next podcast, contact us today! Do you have a brand that you'd like to launch or grow? Do you want help from a partner that has successfully launched hundreds of brands totaling over $2 billion in revenues? Visit HarvestGrowth.com and set up a free consultation with us today!

Tim Schumacher (@TimSchu), the mastermind behind SEDO and Adblock Plus, now leads the SaaS Group to new heights. With $60 million ARR, 20 thriving businesses, and 300 employees, Tim shares his incredible journey from a coder to an influential entrepreneur in scaling businesses. From his strategic focus on developer and online marketing tools to his forward-thinking perspective on the role of AI in reshaping the industry, we dive deep into the bootstrapping mindset and how it empowers founders to build something extremely valuable that SaaS Group can keep running, growing, and creating life-changing exits at the same time.Oh, and did you know that Tim almost bought my business?Tim on Twitter: https://x.com/TimSchu00:00:00 Private Equity and Business Growth Trends00:12:34 Evaluating Niche Business Acquisitions00:24:39 Acquisition and Growth Strategies in BusinessThis episode is sponsored by Acquire.comThe blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/tim-schumacher-the-bootstrappers-mindset/ The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/324-tim-schumacher-the-bootstrappers-mindsetThe video: https://youtu.be/16MQT8hU7wYYou'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.comPodcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcastNewsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletterMy book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.comHere are a few tools I use. Using my affiliate links will support my work at no additional cost to you.- Notion (which I use to organize, write, coordinate, and archive my podcast + newsletter): https://affiliate.notion.so/465mv1536drx- Riverside.fm (that's what I recorded this episode with): https://riverside.fm/?via=arvid- TweetHunter (for speedy scheduling and writing Tweets): http://tweethunter.io/?via=arvid- HypeFury (for massive Twitter analytics and scheduling): https://hypefury.com/?via=arvid60- AudioPen (for taking voice notes and getting amazing summaries): https://audiopen.ai/?aff=PXErZ- Descript (for word-based video editing, subtitles, and clips): https://www.descript.com/?lmref=3cf39Q- ConvertKit (for email lists, newsletters, even finding sponsors): https://convertkit.com?lmref=bN9CZw (00:00) - Private Equity and Business Growth Trends (12:34) - Evaluating Niche Business Acquisitions (24:39) - Acquisition and Growth Strategies in Business

In today's episode, Jon talks with Jason Fried, CEO of 37signals about how his company made products for themselves and how that translated into a massively successful business. Visit JonDavids.com for more info. And follow Jon across social: X (Twitter) | Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | YouTube 

In this episode of the SaaS Revolution Show our host Alex Theuma is joined by Adam Robinson, founder & CEO of Retention.com, who shares his lessons from when a bootstrapper tries to grow like a venture backed company. "The word bootstrap mostly describes 'okay, I got it to 3 million, it's making a million and a half bucks. I don't have a lot of employees, I don't have a lot of problems, this is great'. The problem is like, most of those companies are actually just slowly dying. But what creating companies like that can allow you to do is you get it to that; you get somebody else running it, and then you try to tinker around and like, make another one. By the time you're like, 'oh, this is working, I'm actually going to focus on it', It ends up being bigger than the last one." Adam shares: - His 10 year stint working "The Big Short" - Equating entrepreneurship with being able to be present - Hustle meets reality: why five years went by before he paid himself a dollar - Churn dynamic and financial discipline - The most capital efficient way to spread awareness in your buyers - The art of getting unstuck and the entrepreneurial cycle and more!Check out the other ways SaaStock is serving SaaS founders

Do you feel like your marketing is stuck in the past, dependent on expensive ads from a couple of big tech giants? What if there was a way to build an authentic community of brand ambassadors to help you reach new audiences and drive sales?Joey Vaillancourt, the Head of Partnerships at BiOptimizers, and host of the Partner Up Profits podcast, reveals his blueprint for recruiting affiliates and scaling your business through partnerships. He's cracked the code on this modern marketing strategy, and is here to share exactly how you can do it too.In this episode, we'll explore:-The evolution of affiliate marketing, and how it's adapting to the modern market-Strategies for recruiting the right affiliates, who align with your brand's mission-Determining the ideal commission structure, to attract and retain top-tier affiliates-Managing and nurturing your affiliate community for long-term success-Leveraging podcasting to highlight partners, and grow your affiliate programWhether you're new to affiliate marketing or looking to take your existing program to the next level, this episode is packed with actionable insights and real-world examples. Joey shares his framework for finding and recruiting mission-based affiliates who genuinely believe in your product, as well as tips for creating a cohesive marketing strategy that integrates affiliate marketing with your other channels.But here's the thing: getting started with affiliate marketing can be overwhelming, especially if you're not sure where to begin. That's why Joey has put together some incredible resources just for our listeners:-The Bootstrapper's Guide to Influencer Marketing: A comprehensive guide to getting your affiliate marketing program off the ground, even if you're working with a limited budget.-The $100 Million Planning Strategy: This AI-powered tool helps you create a one-year, three-year, and 10-year plan for your affiliate program. Visit partnerprofits.com/digitalmarketer to access these game-changing resources.Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn from one of the best in the business!Key Takeaways:01:15 The evolution of affiliate marketing03:13 Strategies for recruiting and managing affiliates06:52 The difference between mission-based and transactional affiliates11:52 Determining commission rates and payout structures20:41 Strategies for affiliate community management and retention24:40 The difference between affiliate marketing and MLM25:06 The ethical approach to influencer marketing29:40 Podcasting as a powerful tool for building partnerships34:51 Using AI for partnership planning and strategy developmentResources:Free Guide: The Bootstrapper's Guide to Influencer Marketing - https://partnerupprofits.com/influencer/ Bonus: $100M Planning Strategy Using ChatGPT - https://partnerprofits.com/digitalmarketer Connect with Joey Vaillancourt:Partner Up Profits Podcast -

Here is my chat with Rob Walling, author of the SaaS Playbook. We delved into product pricing, focusing on value alignment rather than greed, and discussed strategic price increases to reduce churn and bolster marketing. Rob also shared when to start paid ads and how to create impactful content. He offered advice on assembling a team within budgetary limits and revealed that smart business structuring can lead to profit with less work. Our conversation ended on the importance of joy in entrepreneurship, emphasizing freedom, purpose, and relationships.These shownotes were created with PodsqueezeLinks and MentionsSAS Playbook: 01:31:58Startups for the Rest of Us Podcast: 01:31:58MicroConf YouTube Channel: 01:31:58The Zen Founder Guide to Founder Retreats: 01:30:39Twitter Thread for Book Recommendations: 01:32:37TimetsampsRob Walling's Book (00:01:16)Writing the Book (00:02:13)Pricing Strategies (00:06:36)OpenAI's Pricing Strategy (00:11:54)Competitive Pricing Strategy (00:13:50)Greed and Motivation (00:16:40)Reasons for Raising Prices (00:17:50)Impact of Pricing on Marketing (00:19:24)Paid Advertising Considerations (00:20:59)Using Ads for SEO Strategy (00:24:57)Marketing Approaches for SaaS (00:29:50)Creating Compelling Content for Reddit (00:32:38)Navigating Reddit and Other Forums (00:34:17)Understanding Marketing and Content Strategies (00:35:20)Challenges of Early-Stage Product Development (00:38:03)Defining Product-Market Fit (00:44:48)Size of the Market (00:48:24)Total Reachable Market (00:49:01)Reaching 100% of the Paying Market (00:50:42)Total Addressable Market (00:51:00)Escape Velocity (00:54:20)Business Plateau (00:55:39)Hiring and Team Growth (00:57:24)Managing People (01:03:09)Owner and Founder Level Thinkers (01:04:35)Challenges of Hiring and Paying Employees (01:05:33)Remote Work and Cost-Effective Hiring (01:07:18)Working On vs. In the Business (01:10:33)Achieving Work-Life Balance and Financial Success (01:14:51)Earning Wealth and the Challenges of Autopilot Income (01:19:44)Investing and Selling Assets (01:20:21)Tax Treatment and Selling SaaS Companies (01:21:14)Wealth and Freedom (01:22:09)Finding Happiness as an Entrepreneur (01:23:04)Retreats and Self-Reflection (01:30:10)Recommendations and Conclusion (01:31:58)

Thank you for listening to The Morning Story Podcast. If you'd like more story ideas, go to 202storyideas.com If you'd like to get better at storytelling in your marketing, go to StoryMagnetWorkshop.com Thank you for listening, and thank you for being part of my story.

Alexandre Berriche maîtrise l'argent. Ancien de Rocket Internet, Alexandre lance Fleet.co en 2019, un service de location de matériel informatique destiné aux entreprises. L'idée ? Permettre aux startups et PME d'utiliser leur budget pour pour développer leurs produits plutôt que d'investir de larges sommes dans les outils de travail (de l'ordinateur à la chaise de bureau). En bref : “garder son cash” pour faire des choses plus utiles, plus centrales à leur business. Avec seulement 4000 euros investis au début, il atteint les 100k euros de CA mensuel en quatre mois. Orienté Cash-flow, Alexandre n'a fait aucune levée de fonds et développe Fleet avec un budget marketing de moins de 2%. En parallèle, Alexandre est passionné par l'investissement, il est business angel depuis 2018 et a rejoint le programme de scouting pour Sequoia Capital — un des fonds américains les plus réputés — en 2022. Alexandre se confie dans cette conversation enrichissante (littéralement !) et pleine de bonne humeur : Analyse de l'économie des startups Comment, pourquoi et surtout quand bootstrapper (s'autofinancer) ? La recette gagnante des projets qui se lancent La méthode Fleet.co Ouvrir son business dans de nouveaux pays : le playbook Tout ce que vous pouvez gagner et économiser en louant votre matériel de travail Je vous ai négocié un code promo : tapez “Do It” sur fleet.co et vous bénéficierez de 2 mois de location gratuite ! Offre valable jusqu'au 31 août 2024 : https://fleet.co/p/alexandreberriche-gdiy TIMELINE : 00:00:00 - Bootstrapper, Scouting et Rocket Internet 00:18:00 - Comment Alexandre décide d'investir ? 00:22:15 - Pourquoi c'est “l'hiver des levées de fonds” : la psychologie des investisseurs 00:30:20 - Pourquoi Fleet.co n'a pas levé de fonds 00:47:30 - La méthode Fleet.co 01:00:10 - Sécuriser les appareils de son entreprise (MDM), l'enjeu de cybersécurité 01:20:42 - La réalité derrière les levées de fonds 01:35:58 - Analyse des tendances actuelles en capital-risque 01:42:48 - Le premier deal fait en direct sur GDIY ! 01:48:10 - La liste des envies d'Alexandre et les JO 2024 01:51:09 - Lisez The Power Law 01:52:45 - Le playbook ultime - la méthode pour lancer un pays 02:02:24 - Budget marketing à 2% 02:04:23 - Quiz : Louer vs. Acheter ? (selon les catégories) 02:11:58 - La librairie Le Parchemin Avec Alexandre nous avons cité d'anciens épisodes de GDIY : #186 - Roxanne Farzac - Station F - Créer un réseau et cueillir les opportunités #183 - Sacha Poignonnec - Jumia - Là où il y a une volonté, il y a un chemin [REDIFFUSION] - Thibaud Elzière - e-Founders #199- Renaud Guillerm - Side Angel (La Martingale) #01 - Simon Dawlat - Batch #307 - Damien Morin - Mobile.club #286 - Benjamin Netter - Riot #312 - Thierry Reboul - Directeur exécutif de Paris 2024 #324 - Antoine Freysz - Kerala Ventures - Masterclass recrutement : la méthode pour s'entourer des meilleurs #354 - Alex Bouaziz - Deel Avec Alexandre, nous avons parlé de : Fleet.co Sequoia Capital Iron Hack Rocket Internet et Jumia Bootstrapping : les bases de l'autofinancement Venture Capital : les fondamentaux d'une levée de fonds et du capital risque Cybersécurité Gestion des appareils mobiles en entreprise (Mobile Device Management : MDM) L'étincelle, la masterclass pour entreprendre OVNI Krug Librairie Le Parchemin Alexandre vous recommande de lire : The Power Law: Venture Capital and the Making of the New Future de Sebastian Mallaby Vous pouvez contacter Alexandre sur Linkedin, ou par email pour un investissement (alex@fleet.co). La musique du générique vous plaît ? C'est à Morgan Prudhomme que je la dois ! Contactez-le sur : https://studio-module.com. Vous souhaitez sponsoriser Génération Do It Yourself ou nous proposer un partenariat ? Contactez mon label Orso Media via ce formulaire.

Joe McMenemon and his college roommate, Brendan, knew they wanted to start a business together. They had run their college fraternity chapter and saw the problem of managing members and collecting payments. So they lived frugally and built a software solution  for fraternities and sororities to solve this problem. ChapterSpot grew slowly over several years as they sold to local chapters. Eventually, the national associations came calling, requesting an enterprise solution to manage hundreds of chapters in one system. They rewrote the platform to run on Salesforce and grew faster with more employees.  ChapterSpot grew profitably to over 30 employees, with 40 large organizations managing thousands of chapters and millions of members on the platform. ChapterSpot was acquired in early 2024 by BillHighway, a strategic acquirer with a payments platform. Quote from Joe McMenemon, CEO of ChapterSpot "Long shots are probably not as crazy as you may think they are, but they're just going to require time. If you think you'll make a bunch of money in three years, it's probably very unlikely. But if you're willing to put in the time and work at it every day, you're most likely going to be able to figure out the right path to success. "My favorite quote is from James Clear: It's the courage to start, a few lucky breaks along the way, and a ton of hard work. That's the formula. "Once you get started, are you putting yourself in a position where you can do it at a level that's best in the world for the problem you are solving? If you're the only one trying to solve the problem and you do it long enough to catch a few lucky breaks, well, eventually, you'll get there." Links Joe McMenemon on LinkedIn ChapterSpot on LinkedIn ChapterSpot website BillHighway website The Practical Founders Podcast Tune into the Practical Founders Podcast for weekly in-depth interviews with founders who have built valuable software companies without big funding. Subscribe to the Practical Founders Podcast using your favorite podcast app. Get weekly Practical Founders newsletter and podcast updates at practicalfounders.com. 

Are you an entrepreneur who's constantly stressed out? Do you struggle to balance your health and your business? Running a business can take a toll on your health, but it doesn't have to be that way. Join Gwenn and Jeremy as they tackle the critical link between entrepreneurship and health in this episode of Bootstrappers. Gwenn shares a personal story on how the toll of stress can take on mental and physical well-being.    In this episode you will learn practical strategies like self-care, delegation, and finding balance to combat workplace stress. Gain insights on maintaining a positive mindset, fostering well-being, and achieving business success without compromising health or personal life.    This episode is a valuable resource for entrepreneurs and business leaders looking to conquer stress and prioritize holistic wellness. Don't miss out on actionable advice to thrive in both business and life. #Entrepreneurship #Wellness #StressManagement #BusinessSuccess   Click here for the free One on One Meeting guideline to help you team members reduce stress.    This podcast is produced by Two Brothers Creative 2024.  

Companies like Samsung are sourcing college talent using Scholarship Owl. The firm hit $6m in 2023 revenue, bootstrapped. 150,000 college students join the platform monthly increasing the size and quality of the talent pool the company's B2B customers can pay to access. Can he hit $10m this year?

Head over to Sessions.us and sign up for a 14-day free no strings attached free trial.Eric Melchor is joined with Michael Kamleitner – legend bootstrapper and founder of Walls.io. In this episode we cover Michael's entrepreneurial journey and how he learned that people were looking for ways to keep their virtual audience engaged which led to the idea for walls.io. We also talk about:how Walls.io provides a platform for brands to collect and leverage user-generated content in a variety of wayswhy building a partner network can be an effective strategy for business growthwhy investing revenue back into the business is important for continuous growth and improvementThank you so much Michael for coming on. Thanks to B2BPodPros for producing this. Find out who upcoming guests are and get my newsletter in your inbox every week, subscribe at https://innovatorscanlaugh.substack.comBuying ad spots on large podcast ad networks sucks. We fixed that! Check out https://www.b2bpodpros.com to learn more.Previous guests include: Arvid Kahl of FeedbackPanda, Andrei Zinkevich of FullFunnel, Scott Van den Berg of Influencer Capital, Buster Franken of Fruitpunch AI, Valentin Radu of Omniconvert, Evelina Necula of Kinderpedia, Ionut Vlad of Tokinomo, Diana Florescu of MediaforGrowth, Irina Obushtarova of Recursive, Monika Paule of Caszyme, Yannick Veys of Hypefury, Laura Erdem of Dreamdata, and Pija Indriunaite of CityBee. Check out our five most downloaded episodes: From Uber and BCG to building a telehealth for pets startup with Michael Fisher From Starcraft Player to Maximizing Customer Lifetime Value with Valentin Radu ...

Are you hiring low quality employees? On this episode of Bootstrappers, Jeremy and Gwenn Aspen unveil groundbreaking strategies to navigate the current labor shortage crisis, introducing listeners to the power of remote teams and why you don't have to hire B and C employees to your team. Businesses, now more than ever, are struggling to find qualified employees and are often forced to retain staff members that don't meet expectations. This episode delves into how small and medium-sized businesses, once restricted to local talent and high recruitment costs, can now develop comprehensive labor strategies that include tapping into a vast pool of international professionals.  Jeremy and Gwenn share insights into the shifting dynamics of the labor market post-COVID-19 and the emerging generation of workers, asserting that the future of work is border-agnostic.Jeremy and Gwenn illustrate how businesses can significantly reduce labor costs while simultaneously attracting and retaining elite professionals. They touch on the implications for company culture, growth momentum, and the overall success of embracing a global workforce.his episode of "Bootstrappers" is not only a guide to strategic labor hiring in the face of a shortage but a testament to the possibilities that remote work and global team integration offer to modern businesses aiming for growth and efficiency. This podcast is produced by Two Brothers Creative 2024.

This month we are having a special Ask an Expert: LaunchPad Live. We are excited to have an excellent panel available to answer all your burning questions. Guest Experts include: The Panelists: - Charles Edge: CTO at ⁠Bootstrappers.mn⁠ Mark Buffington: Senior Consulting Engineer at Jamf Isaac Ordonez: Director of Technology at Mann Consulting Phil Stokes: macOS Malware Researcher at SentinelOne   ---------------------------------   Launchpad Podcast is hosted by Rocketman Tech where we discuss recent news, updates and happenings in the Jamf and Apple world. Always relevant and always casual, we'll have a Keynote speaker, discuss current LaunchPad events, and invite group discussion, questions and topic requests throughout the ~1 hour meeting.

Is your calendar working for you or against you? On this episode of the Bootstrappers podcast, Gwen and Jeremy discuss everyone's most precious resource: Their time. Jeremy gives advice on how he structures his work week so you can have a chill Friday. Gwen dives deep on tips and tricks on how to have your assistants save you time. All this and more on this week's episode! Follow this link for the free job description template! This podcast is produced by Two Brothers Creative 2024.

Homepage experiments.  Marketing is too expensive.  Product-led growth.  VC game.  Bootstrapper game.  Cold outreach.  Over-correcting.  Shingles.  Vienna.  Snowboarding.   Connect with Jordan: Jordan's company, Rally Jordan on Twitter: @jordangal Jordan on Threads: @jordangal Connect with Brian: Brian's new content:  fullstackfounder.co  Brian's SaaS, Clarityflow  Brian on Twitter: @casjam Brian on Threads: @brian.casel

Are you a manager dreading the difficult task of firing someone? Learn how to handle this challenging situation with professionalism and efficiency in this episode of Bootstrappers. Gwenn and Jeremy share their expertise on the best ways to handle one of the most difficult aspects of being a boss - firing someone. We'll guide you through the process making this challenging situation a little easier to navigate. So if you're looking for advice on how to fire someone, tune in now and become a pro at handling this tough task.   Follow this link for the free job description template! This podcast is produced by Two Brothers Creative 2024.

Tyler Uriah Copenhaver-Heath, a biochemist and MBA graduate, stands as a beacon of resilience and transformative success. From humble beginnings on welfare with a father in prison, Tyler transformed his challenges into entrepreneurial triumphs. He founded APEX Customs, evolving it from a garage startup to a multi-million-dollar enterprise selling it and several other businesses in under a decade.

In episode #160, I review growth rates that are considered VC fundable. I find growth rates to be very subjective based on the audience. Are we talking to VC or PE? Let's not get caught up in the hype. I cover the growth rates posted by Jason Lemkin in a SaaStr post and Benchmarkit.AI growth rates. - Lemkin's view of growth rates - Benchmarkit.ai growth rates - Bootstrappers, let's not get caught up in the hype SaaStr post: https://www.saastr.com/look-no-vc-wants-to-fund-a-startup-with-so-so-growth-except-maybe-your-existing-investors/ Subscribe to Ben's SaaS metrics newsletter: https://saasmetricsschool.beehiiv.com/subscribe Subscribe to Ben's SaaS monthly newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page SaaS Metrics courses here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/ Join Ben's SaaS community here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout Follow Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrmurray

In this episode of The Bootstrapper's Guide to Logistics, we get to hear the story of Mark Vickers, Former Founder, and CEO of Borderless Coverage (Acq. by Reliance Partners). It's the story of how a gap in the cross-border space inspired Mark to find a solution in the early days of the rise of nearshoring to Mexico and how he was able to capitalize on this trend early on. Listen in to learn how to overcome the challenges of sticking to your vision, the future of cross-border space, and much more.Proudly sponsored by Rapido. How freight companies find freight talent.

ℹ️ IntroductionOn this episode of Frugalpreneur, we dive into the inspiring story of Julie, a resilient entrepreneur who has built a reputation for herself through bootstrapping her companies. Julie shares her experiences of both success and failure in the world of bootstrapping and how she reinvests every dollar earned back into her businesses during the early stages. We learn about the sacrifices she has made as the sole breadwinner, sacrificing personal life and financial stability to make her businesses work.Julie takes us through her journey of starting her first business, which took a year before she started receiving payment, and her second business, which recently started generating income after three years. She emphasizes the importance of reviewing cash flow on a weekly basis and the value of investing in personal growth as a business owner.Throughout the episode, Julie shares valuable insights and advice for fellow entrepreneurs, including trusting their gut instincts, avoiding bottlenecks in business, and utilizing software like QuickBooks for financial management. She highlights the pros and cons of bootstrapping, such as the ability to outsource non-essential tasks and the necessity of making decisions that align with individual business goals.Listeners are encouraged to visit julieb.com for more information and sign up for Julie's weekly email newsletter, "the b awesome brief," which provides business tips and ideas. Julie Bee, a business coach with a background as a CPA at a big 4 accounting firm, is introduced as the speaker who helps business owners execute their visionary ideas through coaching, accountability, workshops, training, and her own podcast.Julie's resourcefulness shines through as she shares her strategies for saving money, including learning how to do expensive tasks themselves, such as building and maintaining websites, doing taxes, and handling IT duties. She explains that while these tasks should be eventually delegated, they currently serve as a cost-saving measure for her business.The episode concludes with Julie's journey into podcasting, which led to speaking engagements and ultimately a book deal with a prestigious publisher. She now also operates as a coach, offering a "pay only if you're getting value" approach to her clients. This unique coaching mentality reflects Julie's dedication to helping entrepreneurs succeed.Join us on this episode of Frugalpreneur as we uncover the inspiring journey of Julie, a bootstrapping entrepreneur who has triumphed in the face of challenges and continues to pave the way for others to achieve their dreams.❇️ Key topics and bulletsPrimary Topic: Julie's Career Transition and Entrepreneurial Journey- Transition from CPA at a big 4 accounting firm to operating a marketing agency- Impact of the housing market crash of 2008 on Julie's career- Evolution from podcasting to speaking engagements to a book deal and eventually becoming a coach- Unique coaching approach of "you only pay if you're getting value" mentality- Sacrifices made as the sole breadwinner to bootstrap her businesses- Challenges and successes of bootstrapping her companies- Learning to do expensive tasks for herself to save money in the early stages of her businessPrimary Topic: Bootstrapping Strategies- Importance of reinvesting every dollar earned back into the business during the initial stages- Balancing personal sacrifices with the goal of making the businesses work- Learning how to perform expensive tasks such as website building, taxes, and IT instead of outsourcing- The balance between doing work that can grow the business and doing unnecessary workPrimary Topic: Key Strategies for Bootstrapping- Using QuickBooks for financial management and hiring a bookkeeper to stay updated on...

In this episode of The Bootstrapper's Guide to Logistics, we get to hear the story of Patrick Noonan, Founder of MAP Transit, a third-party logistics company, based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. From selling windows to selling freight, Patrick walks us through the path of creating MAP Transit and the influences and philosophy driving the company's growth.Proudly sponsored by Bitfreighter. Scale your shipper integrations 10x with unlimited messaging. No Transactional Charges.Proudly sponsored by Rapido. How freight companies find freight talent.

Struggling to stay organized while juggling work and family life? Learn how you can stay organized at work without having to sacrifice the other important parts of your life. In this episode of Bootstrappers, Gwenn is joined by Lindsey Savage, an impressive working mom who has mastered productivity. Lindsey shares her three secrets to juggling family commitments and work engagements while still finding time for friends and fun.   Download our free PDF planner to create an impactful strategic planning meeting, and set your business and yourself up for success every single year by following this link. This podcast is produced by Two Brothers Creative 2023.

Launched in 2012, this company hit $1m revenue 1 year after launch. Today, they do $40m and the founder still owns 69%. 17% investors. 14% ESOP pool. Can he bootstrap to $100m by 2026?

Dan & Ian are back in Austin and have fully recovered from what was the biggest event in DC history: DCBKK 2023. Over 400 entrepreneurs gathered in the world-class city of Bangkok to swap stories, participate in masterminds, and fuel each other to reach new business heights in 2024. In the episode, they covered many topics, including a framework for analyzing locations by their UI versus API, why Thailand's UI beats America, and what's next for DC Black, a community for 7 & 8-figure founders. Dan & Ian also share their biggest conference takeaways, some of their business strategy for 2024, and three trends happening in the community and the industry at large. Stick around for some of their favorite stories from DCBKK 2023. Dan & Ian's Stuff: The Newsletter (https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe) “The DC” (https://dynamitecircle.com/join-dc/) DC Black (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) Global events (https://dynamitecircle.com/events) Hire remote talent (https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/) Find a remote job (https://dynamitejobs.com/) Listen on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@OfficialTropicalMBA) Follow on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/tropicalmba/) @TropicalMBA (https://twitter.com/TropicalMBA) @AnythingIan (https://twitter.com/AnythingIan) Show notes: (00:01:42) Intro (00:02:32) The UI vs API of a location (00:15:06) DC Black re-opens (00:19:09) Conference woes and funny stories (00:24:14) Pulling the CEO card backfires (00:32:39) We have a branding problem (00:35:27) We had the horsepower to run an epic event (00:36:40) The space is more competitive than ever (00:39:35) Increased financialization in the bootstrapping space (00:43:58) It's time for the 3,000 day principle (00:48:15) Favorite DCBKK stories Links: Apply for DC Black (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) Does the American Dream Still Make Sense? (https://rameerez.com/does-the-american-dream-still-make-sense/) What's Up With Austin? (https://perell.com/essay/whats-up-with-austin/) Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Lucy Bella Simkins, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber Additional episodes you might enjoy: 4 types of business coaches for 7+ figure founders and reflecting on our 15-year partnership (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/15-year-partnership) Dissecting the American Dream & Business Lessons from the Elon Musk Bio (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/american-dream-lessons) Brian Balfour's $33M Growth Insights: Product-Market Fit, Durability, & Knowing Your Natural Limits (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/33mil-growth-insights)